RCB secure top spot on IPL points table despite defeat in run-fest against SRH
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru sealed the top spot on the IPL points table despite losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad in a run-fest in Hyderabad. A collective effort from the Royal Challengers’ batting unit fell short against a daunting total posted by SRH in their last league-stage fixture.
Winning the toss, SRH opted to bat first. RCB had one change from their combination against Punjab Kings as Rajat Patidar returned to the starting XI in place of an injured Jacob Bethell.
The Sunrisers got into their attacking groove right from the start. Abhishek Sharma (56) and Travis Head (26) showed immense power-hitting capability on a surface where bowlers failed to extract any early movement. The introduction of Rasikh Salam Dar saw RCB draw first blood. Rasikh breached Head’s defence, offering RCB a slender opportunity to halt the scoring rate.
However, an incoming Ishan Kishan allayed any fears of a slowdown for the hosts. The duo of Ishan (79) and Abhishek put together a stand of 52 runs from just 26 balls. Suyash Sharma got hold of Abhishek to break the stand. But then the mantra for Sunrisers Hyderabad was loud and clear. They needed a massive win against RCB, which required runs on the board.
Heinrich Klaasen joined Ishan Kishan in the center and the carnage unfurled. The RCB bowlers failed to conjure much magic on a track that had the batters licking their lips. Klaasen and Kishan put together a partnership of 113 runs from just 48 balls before Krunal Pandya removed Klaasen.
A late surge from Nitish Kumar Reddy (29*) propelled SRH to 255/4 at the end of their 20 overs. On a day when bowlers were being slaughtered, Rasikh Salam Dar was the pick of the lot for RCB with figures of 2/52. To win the game, RCB needed a historic chase, but reaching 180 was enough to secure the top spot on the table.
However, for RCB, it was only going to be a plunge towards a victory. Venkatesh Iyer opened the innings for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru alongside Virat Kohli and he showed no signs of relent whatsoever. He started exactly from where he left against Punjab Kings.
Iyer smashed 44 from just 19 balls, hitting four fours and four sixes. Kohli played the second fiddle in the opening stand that totted up 60 runs for the opening stand from just 27 balls. Iyer’s mind-boggling storm was cut short by Eshan Malinga. The fall of Iyer saw RCB lose two more wickets in quick succession as Virat Kohli (15) and Devdutt Padikkal (21) followed the southpaw’s footsteps.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar anchored the innings. Instead of going all guns blazing, he focused on taking RCB across the magic mark of 166 runs to secure a top-two finish. Patidar joined forces with an incoming Krunal Pandya as the two added 84 runs for the fourth wicket.
Patidar’s 56 off 39 balls alongside Pandya’s 41* off 31 balls played a massive hand in RCB's chase as they got past the 180-run mark to top the points table after having last done so in 2011. Despite Patidar falling for a well-orchestrated 56, Tim David surged late, hammering 15 runs off just seven balls to take RCB to 200. They concluded the innings at 200/4, losing the game by 55 runs but securing the top spot in the points table, courtesy of a superlative NRR that read +0.783 at the end of the game.
